Some of the best albums are the ones that arrive exactly when you need to hear them, and Armor For Sleep’s long-awaited album, The Rain Museum is exactly that. Originally created as a concept album that paints the picture of a post-apocalyptic world where weather no longer exists on earth and people go to a mysterious museum in the middle of the desert to look back on what life used to be like, the devastatingly beautiful twelve track album arrived exactly when it was needed – as many people are looking back and reflecting on what life used to be like before a global pandemic changed everything. Filled to the brim with sweeping songwriting, stunning vocals, and strikingly vulnerable lyrics, The Rain Museum is carried by a strong sense of longing and melancholy, but also quite a bit of hope.
Thematically, there isn’t even a question of whether or not The Rain Museum hits its mark. The overall concept of the album is palatable enough that even a casual listener can enjoy it without needing the backstory, but it definitely plays better with the theme in mind. From track to track, The Rain Museum plays a bit like a movie, with some high points coming on songs like “In This Nightmare Together”, the beautiful acoustic track, “New Rainbows” and of course, the epic closer, “Spinning Through Time.”
For those who have been waiting patiently for a new Armor For Sleep album for the past fifteen years, The Rain Museum delivers and then some, as well. These twelve tracks easily dance between paying homage to the band’s past while forging ahead with a few sound. Ben Jorgensen’s iconic vocals shine on every single track while the rest of the band creates a near theatrical soundscape around him. It feels matured, but without forgetting where they came from – nostalgic, but without coming off as pandering or gimmicky. The Rain Museum is an album that is easy to get lost in, and even easier to play on repeat after it comes to an end, and you’re bound to find something new with each and every listen.